Track-clearing board and arm for mowing-machines or the like



(No Model.)

' J'. B.'HAY E-S'. TRACK CLEARING BOARD AND ARM FOR MOWING MACHINES OR THE LIKE. 'No. 591,274. Patented om. 5,189'7.-

71 muses v Jmbflfiayea Jlialvaey UNITED STATES PATENT UEEICE.

JACOB BORTON HAYES, OF MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

TRACK-CLEARING BOARD AND ARM FOR MOWING-MACHINES OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591 ,274, dated October 5, 1897. Application filed February 23, 1897. s ri N 62 1 (NO 1105813 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AOOB BORTON HAYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moorestown, in the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Track-Clearing Boards and Arms for Mowing-Machines or the Like, of which the following is a specication. 7

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in track-clearing boards and arms for mowing-machines or the like, and has for its object to overcome the disadvantage which has heretofore existed in this class of devices, which'has'beenthe drawing of heavy tangled grass in bunches, and I accomplish this result by forming an offset-board instead of a straight one, as has heretofore been used, and attaching said board to the back end of the shoe in the usual manner and placing an arm upon this board, which has a certain amount of spring action and is also bent after the manner of a moldboard of a.

plow.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which a portion of a finger-bar and sickle are shown in perspective having my improvement attached thereto.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A represents the finger-bar, and B the shoe carried at the outer end thereof, while 0 is the trackclearing board, which is pivoted at D to the rear end of the shoe, and from this point rearward to the point E the board stands substantially at right angles to the cutter-bar or in alinement with the shoe, and in practice I prefer that this portion of the dividing-board shall beplaced as close as possible to the standing grass.

While I have here shownand described the track-clearing board as having its forward portion approximately at right angles to the sickle-bar, it is obvious that this portion of said dividing-board may be deflected in either direction within certain limits without affecting the operation thereof, and for some pur posesit is desirable to so deflect this board, it being clearly understood that the object of this portion of the dividing-board is to avoid direct action upon the cut grass until the machine has advanced sufficiently to bring the rear portion of the dividing-board into action thereon.

From the point E rearward the track-clearing board stands at a slight angle to the forward portion of the board, so that when the grass is cut and the machine passes thereon it is permitted to fall directly upon the ground without being deflected within the swath until reaching the point E, after which the deflected portion of the boardwill act upon the cut grass after the manner of the moldboard of a plow and force it inward within the swath, leaving a clear line of demarcation therebetween and the standing grass.

An arm F is secured to the rear portion of the track-clearing board, so as to have a certain amount of spring action, which is here shown as being brought about by the coil G, formed in this arm, and said arm is so bent as to extend within the line of travel of the rear portion of the track-clearing board and also to a considerable distance in the rear thereof, so that when this arm comes in contact with the cut grass which is held on the ground by the friction of the stubble in connection with the weight of the cut grass and the distance the arm F is behind the cutterbar leaves it nothing to do but turn the tops over instead of the whole weight of grass, as is done with those now in use. The shape of the arm and the spring action thereof makes it impossible for any accumulation of grass to stay thereon, so that all bunches and matted grass will be left looser and in a better condition for drying than can be done with devices of this class now in use.

Having thus fully described this invention, what is claimed as new and useful is- In combination with a finger-bar, a trackcleaner consisting of an arm extending part of itslength at right angles to the finger-bar for the purpose described, then deflected inwardly, an arm having one end secured in a clip on the track-cleaner, a coil in the arm also secured by a clip and an extension curved up and extending'beyond the track-cleaner, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afflXed my signature in the presence of two sub= scribing witnesses.

JACOB BORTON HAYES. Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, F. MATTNER.

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